Condemning the negative campaign launched against him by a specific group of people, Prof Dr Rahim Bangash of anatomy department, Khyber Medical College, Sunday said that neither had he slapped nor ordered the student to remove veil, for which he was being blamed.
He said that he has been in teaching profession for the last 28 years and taught a large number of students, including observant of veil and hijab. As it was their personal affair, he never interfered or tried to influence anyone. He preferred to teach rather than practice as a surgeon for students.
On the day of the incident the discussion on the issue started only as an academic point of view and medical ethics.
He said that he only wanted to say that medical profession demands a lot of physical involvement of doctors with patients. In his opinion, it was not possible for any veil observing lady to deal with male patients.
Unfortunately the reaction of one foreign student, who is a Canadian national, and unaware of the local traditions of Pakhtoon culture regarding student/teacher relationship, got involved in a very unruly discussion. She snatched the microphone from his hand and started addressing the class and exaggerated the issue. To end the discussion he asked her to return the microphone whereas she was reluctant.
Dr Rahim Bangash regretted that in that process she staggered and lost her balance. He never slapped or tried to remove her veil, for which he was being blamed but rather asked her to leave the class.
He has already clarified his position to the enquiry committee constituted for the purpose, comprising of renowned scholars of Islamic theology, Arabic studies and Islamiyat departments. He said that he has explained his position to the committee and its members were quite satisfied with his stand. In spite of clarification to the committee, unfortunately, a specific group continued to malign and insult him through different means of propaganda. Dr Bangash said that he wanted to request media to find the reality that he never got involved in discussion of veil in his 28 years of teaching career.
He said that by the grace of Allah he is a sincere Muslim and can’t even think of using insulting or derogatory remarks against his own religion Islam.
He advised the students not to fall prey to the political propaganda and insult the teaching community, as it is bringing a bad name to the medical profession and the institution.
Source: The Nation.
